Saturday Walk: 13th June – 8 miles, medium to harder category: Ilkley to Addingham circular

The next walk is in the “medium/harder” category primarily because of the short steep section at the start of the walk and the length of the walk. There’s also the climb back up to the car park from the river in Ilkley at the end of the walk – which I usually forget to mention. I estimate that this walk could take up to 3.5 hours. We’ll be having lunch at the Vitello Lounge, which is part way up the hill back towards the car park. They have a large menu to suit everyone and lots of space for groups.

The walk will start from the car park near the Darwin gardens at 9:15am. (see map attached) To find this car park you go up Wells Road and over the cattlegrid just before the moors and the entrance to the car park is on the right, immediately after you go over the cattlegrid . After searching online, I can’t find any information about charges for this car park but do come prepared, just in case. There are no toilets though, so you might have to visit the car park in the centre of Ilkley for those before the walk, if needed.

Note that the Ilkley Food and drink Festival is on this weekend but it’s on East Holmes field – over past the lido area so it won’t affect us.

The walk heads up on to the moors and there’s a steep section walking up a lane to start with. Once we get on the path it’s much more level. If the weather is good, we’ll have some great views over Wharfedale. We head along for a while and then there’s a small stream to cross on stones and then another very short steep section on the moors up to a slightly higher-level path near the Swastika stone. From there we enjoy the views for a while longer before we descend a slightly rocky path, where we have to take care as it can be a bit tricky (sure footedness and a pole essential), we then go through a field of sheep on to a lane. We continue along the lane before reaching Addingham Moorside where we descend again. Then we must very carefully cross the busy A65 and descend into Addingham. There is a toilet in Addingham (slightly off the walk route), which could be used if needed, however it is no longer free and I am unable to find out the charges and how you pay, so bring cash and a card, if you think you might need to use it.

We then follow the Dales Way by the river back to Ilkley. This part is all flat. Once we reach Ilkley, we have to climb back up to the car park, but we’ll break that section of the walk with a refreshment stop at the Vitello Lounge on Station Plaza, booked for 12:45 – we might be early.